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Airlines react to Boeing's New 737 MAX Forecast
In yet another bad week for Boeing, the manufacturer has now admitted it doesn’t expect to have certification for its 737 MAX until at least the middle of this year. The result of this further setback means that major airlines are having to come up with contingency plans. Several airlines have now released official reactions to the lengthened grounding, so who has already reacted and what can we expect over the coming weeks?
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Boeing Moves Target for Max Service Re-entry to Mid-2020
Boeing has begun telling customers and suppliers that it believes the 737 Max will not start flying again in service until mid-2020, an estimate informed by what the company said its “experience with the certification process.” The company added that the estimate remains subject to ongoing attempts to address “known schedule risks” and warned that further developments might arise that could affect the certification process.
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Airbus To Produce A321s in Toulouse from 2022
Airbus on Tuesday said it will start producing the largest variant of its narrowbody family in Toulouse, ending months of speculation about how the European airframer would use the ‘Lagardère’ hall that now assembles the A380s and whose production will stop at the end of 2021. The decision to install an A321 final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse also dashes the hopes of Airbus’s German division to keep the European production capabilities of the A321 under its wings at Hamburg.
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Boeing looking to borrow $10 billion: reports
As the groundings of the 737 MAX continue and cash reserves are draining at Boeing due to the fact that production is still running on other aircraft programs, the company is reportedly seeking to borrow $10 billion or more, according to reports by Reuters, citing sources close to the matter.
LinkAirlines
British Airways’ Fourth A350 Back In Service After Hard Landing
British Airways’ fourth Airbus A350 is back in the skies. The aircraft was briefly grounded in Tel Aviv for routine maintenance following a hard landing. This is the second incident that the aircraft has encountered to date. The first happened at Airbus prior to delivery.
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British Airways Will Operate Las Vegas’ First Airbus A380 Service
Las Vegas will soon receive its first Airbus A380 service. British Airways is set to begin operating the giant aircraft to the Nevada city in January 2021. Later this year, the British flag carrier will also be operating San Jose’s first scheduled Boeing 747 service.
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Wuhan Coronavirus - Cathay Pacific Staff Can Wear Face Masks
In the wake of the outbreak of the deadly Wuhan Coronavirus, Cathay Pacific has decided to allow all its staff to wear facemasks on all flights and during frontline ground duties with immediate effect. Cathay, along with other airlines, is also allowing passengers no quibble refunds or free flight changes on any route to or from Wuhan.
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Starlux Airlines Shows Off Its Luxurious Airbus A321neo Cabin
Taiwanese startup, Starlux Airlines, has revealed its new luxurious Airbus A321neo cabin ahead of its inaugural flight. Created by Newbury Park, California headquartered, Designworks, a subsidiary of German carmaker BMW, the cabin is geared towards the sophisticated traveler.
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Mexicana – How Mexico’s Oldest Airline Ceased Operations
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the cease of operations of Mexicana de Aviación. The Mexican carrier was the second oldest in Latin America behind Avianca and one of the most highly regarded worldwide. How did it happen? Let’s see.
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Wizz Air Achieves Huge Growth In The United Kingdom
Wizz Air achieved huge growth in the United Kingdom in 2019. The low-cost carrier saw its total number of passengers jump by 26% year on year from 2018. The airline expanded its UK operations including serving two new destinations.
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Is SAS Planning A New All Airbus A220 Low Cost Carrier?
Rumor has it that SAS is mulling launching a new airline. The new carrier would be a feeder for its long haul routes out of Copenhagen, and would use a smaller aircraft than SAS has in its fleet. Specifically an aircraft with high efficiency and a capacity of around 120 – 150 passengers. Can you think of any aircraft like that?
LinkAirports
Birmingham Airport signs agreement to improve access to the airport
Birmingham Airport (BHX) has signed a collaboration agreement with Midlands Connect, a sub-national transport body, that will see both parties work to improve access to the airport from across the local and wider region.
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Lyon Airport to expand robotic parking service with additional spaces
Following a successful trial, VINCI Airports and Stanley Robotics have announced that the outdoor robotic parking service at Lyon Airport has entered a new deployment phase and will expand in summer 2020.
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Language translation device introduced by Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) has announced the introduction of a new device, Pocketalk, that provides the airport’s security area with the ability to translate speech into 74 different languages in a bid to help international passengers.
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Budapest Airport opens first phase of new boarding hall
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) has opened the first phase of its new boarding hall to passengers departing from the airport, replacing the previous basic boarding gates.
Pier 1, the new facility, has been designed to provide the same level of comfort as the terminals and will quadruple the current space from 3,000m2 to 11,500m2.
LinkMilitary
Navy’s Osprey Enters Flight Test
Bell Boeing has flown the first example of the CMV-22B Osprey, a version of the tiltrotor tailored for a life at sea with the U.S. Navy. The first flight took place at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas on January 21.
The Navy is to become the third U.S. service to operate the Osprey, following the Marine Corps (MV-22) and Air Force Special Operations Command (CV-22).
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Aviation Quote
Loyal employees in any company create loyal customers, who in turn create happy shareholders.
- Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Airways founder and CEO, 2001.
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Trivia
General Trivia
1. What is the Cessna 305?
2. While flying in a single-engine Cessna, Martin Wikelski observed that dragonflies fly only during warm daylight hours. How did he determine this?
3. The tails of the Piper PA–28 series of aircraft feature corrugations to strengthen the metal surfaces. Why are these corrugations concave (rounded inward) instead of convex (bulge outward)?
4. What major aviation motion picture was used by the U.S. Air Force as an official training film?
5. Construction of what will become the world’s highest airport used by airlines will begin next year and be completed in 2014. In which country will this airport be located?
6. The Invasion of Normandy (a.k.a. Operation Overlord) began on June 6, 1944, which is also known as D-Day. It involved what probably was the largest armada of military aircraft ever assembled for a single purpose. What does the “D” in D-Day represent?
7. A pilot is flying over Kansas at noon under clear skies. Unbeknownst to him, the sun is suddenly extinguished. How much time would elapse before the pilot finds himself flying in total darkness?
